Aircraft pontoon apparatus



.1. B. ANDERSON AIRCRAFT PONTOON APPARATUS Filed May 31, 1927 INVENTOR. Jqmwfimmsaz By W ATTORNEY.

- haust Patented Dec. 4, 1928. y i

UNITED STATES 1,693,773 PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. ANDERSON, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO L. S. MURRAY, OF DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

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Application filed May 31,

My invention relates to floats-or pontoons for use in connection with sea lanes, and the objects of my invention are: rst, to provide a seaplane float which will reduce the lift 6 required to raise a seaplane from the water; second, to provide a float of this class adapted to agitate the water under it, thereby reducing adhesion; third,to provide a float of this class having provision for discharging ex- 1 haust gases through holes in its bottom surface; fourth, to provide a float of this class which is adapted to confine gases or air under pressure for subsequent discharge through its bottom surface; fifth, to rovide a float of this class having qualities a aptingit for use on smaller airplanes than possible heretofore; sixth, to provide a float of this class enabling planes equipped therewith to rise from a smaller space of water than heretofore possible; seventh, to provide a float which will permit planes equipped therewith to rise from the water with heavier loads than heretofore possible; and eighth, to provide a float p of this class which may be heated by the ex-v gases of the engine for the purpose of thawing it out of ice.

\Vith these and other objects in View, as will appear hereinafter, my invention consistsof' certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyin drawings and to the characters of reference thereon, which form a part of this application, in which: 4

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a seaplane equipped with my float, showing the air tank and pipe connection to the cat;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the disposition of the air exhaust members; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of my float, showing details of the air exhaust members and outlets;

and Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a seaplane equipped with my float in which the exaust ases from the engine are expelled mto the ex aust member's. Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and ortions throughout the several views of t e drawings.

The chief parts of my invention and there-' to related portions of a seaplane, are the float members 1, fuselage 2, engine 3, engine exhaust 4, supporting struts 5 and 6, wing 1927. serial No. 195,222.

. construction, forming preferably watertight and airtight walls. The bottom surfaces may form an obtuse angle, a central vertical parti- 6 tion 1 extending the length of the float, and

lateral bulkheads 1 may be provided. EX- tending lengthwise on either side of the central partition 1 are air exhaust members 10, preferably in the form of pipes, surrounded y insulating material 11 and secured by straps 12-to the bottom of the float. The air exhaust members 10 are connected at a point intermediate their ends by'means of upright branches 10, terminatin in a common flange lo secured toithe upper oat surface 1. The 7 air pipe 9 is provided with'a bifurcated end ortion 9 and may be secured to the flange 10 by bolts or other suitable means.

The air exhaust pipes 10 are provided with a-plurality of small air outlet passages or pipes 13, which pass through suitable-apertures in the float and are secured to. plates 13 on the exterior of the float bottom 1, the latter beingpreferably recessed so as tov ac- 8o coinmodate the plate 13, the latterbeing sunk below the float surface, as clearly illustrated. in Fig. 3. Suitable calking material 18 is placed beneath the plate 13 and around the pipe 13 in order to insure watertight 90 joints with the float. The air outlets 13 are spaced evenly along both sides of the keel line of the float. An air tank 8, which may be supplied from an air compressor (not shown) driven by the engine 3, may be pos1-- tioned within the fuselage 2 at any conven- 'ient position, and a valve 9", preferabl -oper-' able from the drivers cockpit, allows air to be forced through the pi e 9 into the exhaust members 10 and throng the outlets 13. Any 10 water which ma have entered the exhaust members 10 will immediately expelled and air will then be forced through the outlets 13 into the water beneath the floats. This will cause the water to be agitated and its adhesion to the float surface thereby-considerably reduced.

It is obvious that in place of a. separate air tank, I may use one or more compartments of my floats for this purpose, suitable proprovide means for. closing the exhaust pipe thereby discharging the exhaust gases into the exhaust members 10. The exhaust gases are allowed to be expelled through the o let 13 until the plane has risen from water after which the exhaust branch pipe may be closed and the exhaust l opened. The action of the exhaust will be identical to that of the air, er:- plained above. The exhaust gases may, however, serve an additional Emotion in the event of the floats becoming frozen in or encrusted-with ice, the hot exhaust gases heat the float and cause the ice to thereby releasing the float.

Although I have shown only a double row of discharge holes in the various drawings, it is, oi course, possible to provide any number of discharge openings, variously arranged and distributed, as well as to vary the shape and size of the recesses.

Though E have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement oi" parts and portions and certain modifications thereof, I do not wish to be limitedto this particular construction, combination and arrangement, nor to the modifications, but desire to include in the scope of my invention, the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

- It. In a float oi the class described, an air distributing means within the float, a pludepressions the outer bottom ace, and air outlet passages communicating with said air distributing means a erminating within said depressions.

2.; In a float member for seaplanes, a hollow float mean with a. hollow compartment and orovided with a sell bottom, a plurality of allow recesses in said bottom, means for 1 air into said hollow compartment .d relatively small conductor connec ng o interior of hollow compartment with id sha ow recesses through the bottom of member for seaplanes, a hollow member with a hollow compartment 2 provided with a solid bottom, a plurality or sh ll-cw recesses in said bottom, means for w i g into said hollow compartment, relatively sm ll conductor connecting the terior of said hollow compartment with said shallow recesses through the bottom of float and means for conducting fluid under pressure to the interior of said hollow compartment.

In a float member for seaplanes, a hollow fioat member h a solid bottom, separate fluid tight chamber positioned therein, means -i'or forcing air into said separate chamber under pressure, plurality of shallow re- .cesses in the lower surface of the bottom'o'f said heat and relatively small conductors connecting the bottom of said recesses with said separate chamber.

5. In a float member for seaplanes, a float member provided with a pair of hollow compartments therein on opposite sides of the middle thereof, a air of conductors therein extending longitu inally near the bottom of said float, shallow recesses in the bottom of said ,fioat below said conductors and relatively small conductors connecting said conductors with said recesses.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Diego, California, this 23 day of May, 1927.

JAMES B. ANDERSON. 

